Bill Text: NY A09447 | 2013-2014 | General Assembly | Introduced
Bill Title: Enacts the "topical medication safety and efficacy act"; relates to the dispensing of topical pharmaceuticals.
Spectrum: Partisan Bill (Democrat 20-0)
Status: (Introduced - Dead) 2014-04-30 - referred to higher education [A09447 Detail]
Download: New_York-2013-A09447-Introduced.html
S T A T E O F N E W Y O R K ________________________________________________________________________ 9447 I N A S S E M B L Y April 30, 2014 ___________ Introduced by M. of A. PICHARDO -- read once and referred to the Commit- tee on Higher Education AN ACT to amend the education law, in relation to enacting the "topical medication safety and efficacy act" THE PEOPLE OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK, REPRESENTED IN SENATE AND ASSEM- BLY, DO ENACT AS FOLLOWS: 1 Section 1. Short title. This act shall be known and may be cited as 2 the "topical medication safety and efficacy act." 3 S 2. Legislative findings and intent. The legislature recognizes that 4 medicine is an important and ever-changing field marked by constant 5 advances in knowledge and methods. Modern pharmaceutical research has 6 expanded the ability of physicians to heal their patients, but these new 7 discoveries require not just new chemical compounds, but also occa- 8 sionally require new methods of administering treatments and distribut- 9 ing medicines to patients. For some topically applied medications, the 10 safety and efficacy of the treatments are enhanced when patients can 11 obtain their medicines directly from their physicians and immediately 12 learn correct application techniques under the doctor's supervision. 13 This is especially true in the case of medications used to treat skin 14 discoloration affecting people of color. Due to the sensitivity of the 15 skin and eyes, patients often require additional guidance from physi- 16 cians in the proper administration of treatments, and this method of 17 instruction coupled with dispensing by physicians currently helps 18 millions of patients around the country. Unfortunately, New York State 19 law has failed to similarly keep pace with medical developments, and New 20 York is one of only five states in the nation that prohibits the 21 dispensing of medications by physicians. This has resulted in certain 22 medications not being as accessible to New York patients as they are in 23 other states, keeping some patients away from desired treatments, and 24 driving others out of state to obtain treatment. 25 S 3. Section 6802 of the education law is amended by adding a new 26 subdivision 27 to read as follows: 27 27. "TOPICAL PHARMACEUTICAL" MEANS: 28 A. BIMATOPROST; EXPLANATION--Matter in ITALICS (underscored) is new; matter in brackets [ ] is old law to be omitted. LBD14547-02-4 A. 9447 2 1 B. HYDROQUINONE; 2 C. METRONIDAZOLE; 3 D. TRETINOIN; 4 E. IMIQUIMOD; 5 F. ACLYCLOVIR; OR 6 G. A DRUG THAT: 7 (1) IS NOT A CONTROLLED SUBSTANCE; 8 (2) REQUIRES A PRESCRIPTION FOR DISPENSATION; 9 (3) HAS BEEN REGISTERED WITH OR APPROVED BY THE FEDERAL FOOD AND DRUG 10 ADMINISTRATION; AND 11 (4) IS PRESCRIBED FOR THE SKIN, THE TREATMENT OF A SKIN CONDITION, OR 12 THE ENHANCEMENT OF AN INDIVIDUAL'S APPEARANCE. 13 S 4. Subparagraph 9 of paragraph a of subdivision 2 of section 6807 of 14 the education law, as amended by chapter 538 of the laws of 2001, is 15 amended and a new subparagraph 10 is added to read as follows: 16 (9) the dispensing of drugs pursuant to an oncological or AIDS proto- 17 col[.]; OR 18 (10) THE DISPENSING OF A TOPICAL PHARMACEUTICAL IN EXCESS OF THE 19 PATIENT'S IMMEDIATE NEEDS WHEN DISPENSED BY A PHYSICIAN, WHERE THE 20 PHYSICIAN: 21 I. TO THE EXTENT A TOPICAL PHARMACEUTICAL IS AVAILABLE AT A PHARMACY, 22 INFORMS THE PATIENT THAT THE PRESCRIPTION MAY BE FILLED AT A PHARMACY OR 23 DISPENSED IN THE PHYSICIAN'S OFFICE; 24 II. DISPENSES ONLY TO THE PHYSICIAN'S PATIENTS; 25 III. BELIEVES THAT DISPENSING WOULD IMPROVE THE SAFETY AND EFFICACY OF 26 THE DRUG OR COMPLIANCE WITH TREATMENT BY THAT PATIENT; AND 27 IV. COMPLIES WITH ALL STATE AND FEDERAL LABELING AND RECORD KEEPING 28 REQUIREMENTS APPLICABLE TO THE AESTHETIC PHARMACEUTICAL. A RECORD MAIN- 29 TAINED UNDER THIS SUBPARAGRAPH MUST BE ACCESSIBLE TO THE EXTENT REQUIRED 30 BY STATE AND FEDERAL LAW. A PHYSICIAN MAY CHARGE A FEE FOR DISPENSING AN 31 AESTHETIC PHARMACEUTICAL. 32 S 5. This act shall take effect immediately.